WWE Royal Rumble 2021: 5 reasons why Kevin Owens replaced Adam Pearce against Roman Reigns

Kevin Owens is once again facing Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. This time, it will be at the 2021 Royal Rumble PPV as KO replaced an "injured" Adam Pearce.

While Pearce's No.1 contender spot was a big surprise, he was expected to be replaced at some point or the other. Kevin Owens just wasn't the name that fans were expecting.

Here are a few reasons why Owens took Adam Pearce's spot at the 2021 Royal Rumble Universal title match against Roman Reigns.

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#5 To finish up the Roman Reigns-Kevin Owens feud

Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens at TLC

Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens have only been feuding for all of December, and have resumed their rivalry in January. It wasn't a prolonged feud, but one that has an unfortunately predictable outcome.

It isn't necessarily a bad thing, since most WWE fans would agree that Roman Reigns is more deserving of a Universal title reign now than Kevin Owens is. This has also been The Tribal Chief's longest World Championship reign yet.

So far, they've had a TLC match and one inside a Steel Cage on the Christmas Special edition of SmackDown. Their third encounter will also have a stipulation - being a Last Man Standing match.

It should be a fun one to watch, and it's actually the second year in a row where Roman Reigns will be having a stipulation Match at the Royal Rumble PPV. Last year, it was a 'Falls Count Anywhere' against King Corbin.

WWE's decision to go with Kevin Owens again was likely because they wanted to close the rivalry completely - which is ultimately expected to end with Roman Reigns getting his hand raised.

However, the steel cage match didn't seem like a suitable ending to their rivalry. A Last Man Standing Match, however, may do just that.

#4 WWE never had any intention of letting Adam Pearce wrestle Roman Reigns

Adam Pearce with a moment of trickery

Adam Pearce as Roman Reigns' next Universal title contender got a lot of buzz, but it was always unlikely to happen. The former NWA Champion has sold himself well in the role, but it seems as though WWE never intended to have a Roman Reigns vs Adam Pearce match in their third-biggest PPV of the year.

It was likely just a move to get attention to Roman Reigns' Royal Rumble title match.

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#3 It's the same match as four years before with the roles reversed

Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens in 2017

In the 2017 Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns challenged Kevin Owens for the Universal title with Chris Jericho suspended above in a shark cage. It was a fun match, and this time around, the roles are completely reversed.

Roman Reigns is the heel Universal Champion with the numbers advantage. It's four years on, but they're having the same match with the roles swapped, which is likely one of the reasons it was booked in the first place.

#2 A major return or plot twist to help Roman Reigns

The head of the table

Given that Roman Reigns won the last two meetings that he had with Kevin Owens, there isn't much of an incentive to rebook the match. While WWE may want to conclude it, it hasn't been the most memorable feud either.

This match could be perfect to set up a return that favors Roman Reigns and helps him to retain.

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#1 Shinsuke Nakamura will likely challenge Roman Reigns post-Royal Rumble

Shinsuke Nakamura after beating Jey Uso

Shinsuke Nakamura should be the de-facto No.1 Contender for Roman Reigns, but he isn't. He defeated Jey Uso on SmackDown, and given the way he was positioned in the last few episodes, it seems clear that he is being groomed for a big match against Roman Reigns.

It's likely going to be a mid-WrestleMania season PPV match, with Elimination Chamber a huge possibility. He won't be expected to win the Universal title from Roman Reigns either, but he could make for a good challenger as he has before.